It’s long been common knowledge that Hollywood big wigs are huge fans of Anime. An upcoming Dragon Ball adaptation is taking things further, and now Variety sends word that Warner Brothers is remaking Akira. Katsuhiro Otomo’s post-apocalyptic epic is widely considered to be one of the greatest and most influential pieces of Japanese animation in history. It was certainly many a young Westerners’ first glimpse of Anime back when it was released stateside in 1989.

The remake will come in two parts, each based on Otomo’s original manga, with a controversial twist: the story is now set in “New Manhattan” instead of “Neo-Tokyo.” With first time director Ruairi Robinson, producer Leonardo DiCaprio, and executive producer Katsuhiro Otomo himself attached for a speedy 2009 release, fans will find out soon enough whether the beloved story will be lovingly retold, or raped and pillaged for a box office buck.

WB takes franchise turn with ‘Akira’  (via Variety)

By Jesse Mann